Reunion
Even though the café wasn't empty, Kichan raised his voice.
"I told you! If you're not careful, you'll end up dragged to the KCIA torture chamber!"
Anyone shouting like that should have drawn some attention, but the people around them acted like they couldn't hear a thing, not even sparing a glance.
"That thing works well. I need to get one too. How much was it?"
When Seowoon commented while looking at the item hanging around Ki-chan's neck, Ki-chan's expression twisted.
"Hyung!"
"You're gonna burst my eardrums. But maybe that's for the best."
"How can you interpret this situation like that?!"
"Think about it. Even though the KCIA guys are crawling all over, they're not making a move on me. They're probably here chasing that Resistance woman, or maybe someone else they suspect. Like the saying goes — the darkest place is right under the lamp."
"You think they're actually covering for you?"
"Exactly. But seriously, aren't they idiots? You can tell they're Ability Users just by looking at them, and they're pretending to be undercover."
"Well, you can tell. Your internal power's over 300, right?"
"Yeah."
"And your magic's over 4th circle. That's why your senses are so sharp. Normal Ability Users aren't that perceptive. Just based on their specs, they're probably fixed players. The ones pretending to be undercover are likely decoys. The real surveillance agents are hidden, trying to see if anyone reacts. So be careful."
"Don't worry. I already plan to lay low. I'm not giving up my two-bathroom apartment for a prison cell."
As Ki-chan droned on about the terrifying and evil deeds of the KCIA, Seowoon's phone rang.
-Seowoon! You remember today's plan, right?-
Seowoon tilted his head at the KakaoTalk message that popped up on the screen.
He raised a hand to pause Ki-chan's motherly nagging, then made a call.
"Sorry, let me just make a quick call."
-Seowoon! You're coming with me later, right?
"Did we have plans?"
-I knew you'd forget. Today's our first high school reunion, man.
That finally jogged his memory.
Their first reunion in the five years since high school graduation.
He vaguely remembered his friends talking about it during his military leave two years ago.
"Who holds a reunion in the middle of vacation season? Not even year-end or New Year's."
-That's just how it is nowadays.
"Still, I'm impressed. You remembered that talk from back then?"
-Ah… actually, you weren't added to the group chat. I just realized…
"Forget it."
-You mad? I only got added to the chat yesterday myself.
"Why would I be mad? With so many people, it's easy to forget. A lot of people coming?"
-Don't get me started. Over 50 people in the group chat, and it sounds like everyone's coming. Changjun even rented out a venue.
"Jo Changjun?"
-Uh… you're still not cool with him?
Jo Changjun. A spoiled rich kid. Not exactly a troublemaker, but the type who believed he could buy friendship with money.
Seowoon's close friends were friendly with him, but Seowoon had always had a tense relationship with him.
"Tense? Nah. Haven't seen him since graduation."
-Really? Oh! And guess what — your lady is coming too.
"Huh?"
-Don't play dumb. Min-ah's coming.
"O-oh? It's been a while."
He tried to sound nonchalant, but just hearing that name made his heart skip a beat.
Joo Min-ah. With her long straight hair and pale, elegant face — she was his first love, and the name stirred up memories.
The girl he silently crushed on for all three years of high school.
On graduation day, he had finally worked up the courage to confess…
'Seowoon… I don't want to lose a good friend.'
She had said it so gently. And like a coward, he just laughed it off like he'd meant something else.
She had called him a good friend, but they hadn't spoken once since graduation. Hearing her name now brought back bittersweet feelings.
-Hey, you listening?
"Huh? Yeah."
-I'll swing by your place. You said you live alone now, right? Where at?
"I'm in Bupyeong… I'll send you the address."
-Cool. See you tonight.
When the call ended, Ki-chan was looking at him with a knowing smile.
"First love, huh… must be nice."
"Huh? How did you…"
Seowoon didn't bother asking. With an Ability User's hearing, there's no way he hadn't heard a phone call happening right in front of him.
"Eavesdropping isn't polite, you know."
"I wasn't trying to. You were right there. Gonna get your heart fluttering after all this time, huh?"
"As if. That was just a schoolboy crush."
"Then why's your face flushed?"
"Hey! You mocking me?"
Ki-chan gave a cheeky grin and then said in a serious tone:
"Hyung. Want me to teach you a 100% guaranteed way to confess?"
"Cut it out. You're gonna get smacked."
Getting dating advice from a high school kid was a bit much, even if he'd already owed him rent.
"That's fine, then."
But the way Ki-chan pouted and leaned back made Seowoon a little curious.
'A man's gotta say what's on his mind. No point holding back.'
"Ahem! I'll just listen."
Looking like he was enjoying this way too much, Ki-chan leaned forward.
"I've used this method multiple times. Not once has it failed."
The fact that he had "clinical experience" gave it a bit of credibility.
Seowoon leaned in, lips dry.
"First, don't give them time to think. Hit them with it when they least expect it. That's key."
He had a point. Back in school, he had hesitated and asked her to talk in private — she probably sensed what was coming. That's why he never got the words out.
"And then?"
Ki-chan met his eyes with an uncharacteristically serious look.
"Just go straight: 'I think I like you. Let's go out.' That's it."
"Ooh. And then?"
"What do you mean, 'and then'? That's game over."
"…"
Seowoon stared at Ki-chan, who sipped his iced tea with that smug face.
Only now did he really take in the kid's face.
"Annoying brat."
"Sorry?"
"Nothing."
"Wait, just now you said—"
"I said it's nothing!"
When he added some internal power to his voice, Ki-chan just blinked innocently and stayed quiet.
"I'm leaving."
As Seowoon stood and walked out without paying, Ki-chan tilted his head like he had no idea what he'd done wrong.
Later, just before dinnertime, his phone rang.
-Yo! Hurry up. Parking here's a nightmare.
"Coming."
When Seowoon stepped outside, a black domestic midsize sedan rolled down its passenger window.
"Get in!"
"Whoa! New car?"
As he buckled up and looked around, Sangyoon puffed up proudly.
"I figured I deserved something for working hard."
Sangyoon had gone straight to work instead of college. With a tough family situation, he'd chosen to skip student loans and dive into the workforce, always seeming more mature than his peers.
It was a small company, but he'd taken computer courses in high school and gotten certifications, making good use of his skills.
"You seem to be doing well."
"Not really. I'm drowning in work. But you — not bad for a guy living alone. That's a nice villa."
Sangyoon glanced at Seowoon's apartment.
"Just kind of happened. You still busy at work?"
"Don't get me started. I wanna punch the teacher who said learning CAD would get me a cushy desk job. I'm literally working myself to death."
After venting, they drove for a while and arrived at a fairly large barbecue restaurant.
"This the place?"
"Should be. Let's go."
"Hey! It's the Jin-Sang Brothers!"
Back in school, because both had the surname Sang and stuck together all the time, friends had dubbed Sangyoon and Seowoon the "Jin-Sang Brothers."
"Jinsang! Long time no see!"
As all the eyes of the classmates who had already arrived turned toward him, Seowoon quickly scanned the room while acknowledging the familiar faces with a half-hearted smile.
Still, he had dressed in the cleanest and neatest clothes he owned, even styled his hair with wax for once—clearly, he was hoping to see someone.
'Has she not arrived yet?'
As he took a seat and began exchanging greetings with faces he hadn't seen in a long time, two people walked into the barbecue restaurant.
Cho Changjun and Joo Mina, walking in side by side.
With her long straight hair still reaching her waist and refined makeup, Mina caught everyone's eyes as she walked in wearing a form-fitting black dress.
No one even noticed Changjun standing beside her.
He wasn't exactly ugly, but with his unusually large face and overly intense features, Cho Changjun's appearance came off as greasy, and only then did he finally enter Seowoon's field of vision.
As they walked in, greeting friends warmly, Changjun noticed Seowoon.
"You came too? It's been a while."
His tone was laced with an unnecessary edge, like he was questioning why Seowoon even bothered to show up—but Seowoon didn't care. That's just the kind of guy Changjun had always been.
"Yeah, long time no see."
Changjun stood out in an obviously expensive two-button suit, complete with a pocket square and a flashy branded watch with a big face.
Just as Mina was about to greet Seowoon, Changjun quickly cut in.
"What are you doing? Come sit. Everyone's waiting."
With that, Changjun casually took a seat at the head of the table, the one arranged like a VIP spot. Mina smiled awkwardly and walked past Seowoon to sit next to him.
A strange, unpleasant feeling stirred in Seowoon's chest.
He knew. He knew feeling this way was pathetic.
So he decided not to dwell on it.
He was curious about his first love and her relationship with Changjun, but he had no intention of asking directly.
They weren't close enough for that, and just seeing her again after so long was enough.
Sharing premium Korean beef and drinks with friends he hadn't seen in years seemed to melt away the awkwardness.
Then one of the classmates near the head seat stood up and spoke.
"Hey everyone! Attention, please. As you know, today's reunion was organized by Changjun here. And since he's covering the whole first round, eat all the expensive meat you want and let's put a dent in his fortune!"
The room burst into laughter and cheers.
Amid the lively crowd, Seowoon quietly stood and headed to the bathroom.
Maybe it was the greasy food after so long—his stomach was revolting.
While sitting on the toilet, he heard someone come in.
"Hey, what's the deal between Mina and Changjun? They came together too."
"Changjun's been going all out since two months ago. Mina's company is a subcontractor for his, so I guess they met through that… Was she this pretty back in school?"
"So they're not officially dating yet?"
"Not yet, but with how much effort he's putting in, how long do you think she'll hold out? Has any woman ever resisted Changjun's money?"
"True. Still, it'd be kind of sad if even the proud Mina fell for him."
"He even asked me to hype him up a bit during the second round. Says he's planning to make a public confession in front of everyone."
Once the two classmates finished and left, Seowoon quietly stepped out of the bathroom.
Back at his seat, he took a swig of soju to wash down his bitter thoughts. He sensed someone approaching.
Turning to the side, he saw Changjun standing there, his face flushed from the alcohol.
"Something wrong? You're drinking pretty hard."
"Nothing's wrong. Just enjoying drinks with familiar faces I haven't seen in a while."
Changjun had always found Seowoon's calm, straightforward way of speaking irritating.
"Is that so? I thought maybe things weren't going well. If you ever have a hard time, just let me know."
Seowoon knew those words weren't sincere. He was just flaunting his presence again. Back in school, that attitude used to cause friction between them. But now, it just seemed childish.
Maybe it was because Seowoon had survived a real battlefield, where blood spilled and flesh tore. In comparison, Changjun's pride in his wealth seemed pitiful.
"Sure. It'd be nice to get help from a rich friend. I'll reach out if I'm ever in trouble."
Changjun's eyebrow twitched as he looked down at Seowoon, who responded so casually.
Despite the friendly expression on his face, he was clearly irritated. Seowoon was supposed to act defensive, insist he didn't need help—but instead, he was calm and unbothered.
"Yeah, feel free to call me. Back in school, you screwed up your grades playing games, didn't you? Couldn't even get into a decent university. In the real world, having a good degree or money matters. When you're job hunting, I'll help you find something—don't hesitate."
The tension between them was rising, and the people around started to notice.
"Changjun, you only care about Seowoon? I'm graduating next year too. Help me out, will you?"
"Yeah, we're all classmates. I went to a regional university too. Help us out!"
Their friends chimed in, trying to lighten the mood with jokes.
Seowoon gave a bitter smile and spoke.
"Feels reassuring to have a rich friend."
Reading the room, Sangyoon also stood up and added:
"Changjun, aren't you going overboard? Korean beef here is pretty expensive…"
"How much could you guys even eat?"
Changjun moved in closer, sitting right next to Seowoon and holding out his empty glass.
Seowoon silently filled it.
"This reminds me—remember when my parents went overseas and we secretly drank my dad's whiskey? Even then, Seowoon poured drinks the best."
He held up his soju glass that Seowoon had filled to exactly 70%.
"See? Perfect. Not too much, not too little. He knows his place. Maybe that's why he's so good at staying in line."
As he started picking a fight, the cheerful mood died instantly.
Even Mina, who had been chatting with her girlfriends, stopped talking and turned to look.
"You seem drunk. Maybe slow down a bit."
Even then, Seowoon kept a composed smile, which only fueled Changjun's irritation.
He felt like he was the only one getting heated while Seowoon stayed cool—like he was being ignored.
"Drunk? I haven't had that much. Or did I say something that offended you?"
"Do you have a problem with me or something?"
Finally, Seowoon dropped the smile.
"Seems like you're the one with a problem."
As things escalated, their friends jumped in to stop them.
"Hey, don't ruin the mood."
"Seowoon, it's been a while. Don't pick a fight."
"Changjun, maybe he's not in a good state today. Just let it go."
As the others started blaming him, Seowoon felt absurdly alone.
'So I'm the villain now?'
The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.
These were people he used to be close with. But now he just felt isolated.
Looking at the faces of friends scolding him, old memories of their school days flashed through his mind.
He downed the rest of his soju and stood up.
"Guess I'm the bad guy. Time for the villain to make his exit."
As he walked away, he heard Changjun's voice behind him.
Changjun, watching Seowoon pretend nothing was wrong, wasn't about to let it go.
"Acting all cool… What a nobody."
'A nobody, huh…'
Outside, the cool air hit his face, helping to sober him up and calm the bitterness.
Compared to Changjun—who dressed in luxury brands, bought dinner for dozens like it was nothing—he really was nothing special.
But really, who was? Most of their classmates were still students who hadn't even found jobs.
To them, Changjun's inherited wealth was bound to be impressive.
Even Seowoon might've thought the same—if he hadn't come back from Cloyd as an awakened being.
But now, he just seemed like a lucky jerk born into privilege.
As he walked on with a bitter smile, Sangyoon came out after him.
"Seowoon."
Having even one friend follow him out didn't feel so bad.
"Why'd you come out? The night's just getting started. Don't worry about it—go back in…"
"Just looking at that greasy Arab bastard makes me lose my appetite."
In high school, when Changjun wasn't around, they used to call him "that Arab bastard."
Seowoon gave a quiet chuckle without saying anything more. Some things just didn't need words between them.
"I called a driver. Let's wait in the car."
They sat in the back seat. Before long, the party wrapped up, and their classmates came pouring out.
"Changjun's treating us to fancy drinks at a nice bar! Everyone, let's go!"
As the crowd cheered and scrambled for taxis, Seowoon spotted Mina getting into Changjun's foreign car.
Something in him sank even lower.
"Still throwing his money around. Why does it look even more disgusting now that we're older?"
Maybe it was because Sangyoon said it for him, but Seowoon didn't reply.
Thud!
With a jolt, their car shook.
Looking back, they saw Changjun's car had reversed into theirs.
Of all people, him.
"Sigh…"
Sangyoon got out with a sigh.
"Oh, was this your car?"
As Changjun looked at the damage with a smirk, Seowoon also got out.
"What the—weren't you gone? So you were still sitting in there?"
Sangyoon casually stepped in front of Seowoon and spoke.
"Call your insurance company."
"For this crap? Just send me your account number. Five hundred should be enough, right? Go ahead and get it fixed or go to the hospital if you feel like it."
As the guy finished speaking and walked back to his car, Sangyoon's face twisted with frustration.
"Hey!"
But it was Seowoon who exploded first.
"What?"
Seeing the guy turn around so nonchalantly left him speechless.
Was he always this reckless?
"Isn't it common courtesy to ask if anyone's hurt when you cause an accident?"
"Courtesy, my ass. Didn't I offer money? Not enough? Want me to throw in another bill?"
As the argument dragged on, Joomin-a got out of the passenger seat and walked over to Changjun.
"What's going on? Huh? Seowoon, was that your car?"
"Can't you tell? He's on foot. He doesn't have a car. It's Sangyoon's. Anyway, a bill should be enough, right?"
"Ha, this bastard really is the worst."
"What? Jin Seowoon, you've gotten cocky, huh? Who are you calling a bastard?"
Drunken and possibly trying to impress Joomin-a next to him, Changyun raised his hand.
But when he saw Seowoon staring intensely, not flinching even a bit, his raised hand suddenly felt awkward.
"Fine. Looks like you've got a lot of resentment toward me. Want to settle it like a man?"
Changyun, full of bravado, seemed emboldened by the presence of the girl he liked.
As he took off his watch and jacket, his solid build was revealed.
Was this what a tiger felt like when staring at a foolish puppy?
Seeing him look so confident, like he'd cornered his prey, made Seowoon laugh inside.
Changjun, about to speak to Seowoon, froze the moment their eyes met.
He couldn't move.
Overwhelmed by a suffocating pressure, he gasped, eyes wide in panic.
He couldn't understand. The guy was just standing there expressionless, staring at him.
But what was this unfamiliar sensation?
As time stretched endlessly, Changjun realized what it was.
Fear.
A feeling he hadn't experienced in so long, he'd forgotten it even existed.
"Got money now, huh? Life's easy, and everyone else looks like a joke to you?"
Seowoon's words sounded like the shriek of a demon from hell.
When Seowoon took one step forward, Changjun involuntarily took two steps back.
It was a natural, instinctive movement, like his body was desperately trying to escape death.
"You can't live like that, bastard."
Almost immediately, other classmates who hadn't yet left started gathering around.
"What's going on?"
"Was there an accident?"
"Was it you guys causing a scene?"
As the former classmates jumped in, the commotion grew.
"Just a light scratch. A dent shop would fix it for less than 100,000 won."
"Not even worth calling insurance over."
"Changjun's car might cost a bit to fix, but calling insurance might actually cost Sangyoon more."
Even though they had to know he hit a parked car while drunk, these idiots shamelessly kept yapping.
The overwhelming pressure from Seowoon had drained Changjun's color, and he gasped for air as it suddenly lifted.
That's when Sangyoon spoke.
"Forget it. Just leave. All of you… Get lost. Try living with some damn pride, you bastards. Don't you have any shame?"
With that, Sangyoon took Seowoon and headed back to the car, leaving the rest of them standing there, dazed.
Unlike Seowoon, Sangyoon had been close with them.
They often stayed in touch, met up regularly. Hearing those words from him had clearly shocked them.
"Shit. It's a new car, and now my insurance premiums will go up."
"Sorry. Should've just taken the money. It's my fault."
"Forget it. Why would I take money from that Arab bastard? Should've just reported him for drunk driving."
"…"
"I'm in a crap mood anyway. Let's go get a drink."
As soon as their chauffeur arrived, the two went into a bar in the city and started drinking, badmouthing Changjun.
"Remember back then? You basically took the fall for that bastard."
"Not just me. Of all the guys with us, he's the only one who got away."
"Should've seen it then. He's always been trash."
"I knew even before that."
"Then why the hell did Mina end up with a guy like that…?"
Sangyoon stopped mid-sentence.
"Sorry."
"Don't be. I still don't get it either. Not that it's any of my business."
"Ugh. I guess money really is that attractive, huh?"
"Apparently."
The two looked at each other, chuckled, and clinked their glasses.
***
"You still haven't found him?"
The sharp-eyed man spoke, and a bulky subordinate lowered his head.
"It seems he moved. There hasn't been a trace of him around his home, and the house is listed with a realtor."
"Can't you pull some strings to get his address?"
"We tried. But the guy canceled the phone line in his name, and he's not using his usual check card anymore. On top of that, because of the recent Resistance incident, we were told to absolutely lay low for now."
"You mean that explosion in Bupyeong? I thought they covered it up as kids playing with fireworks."
"They did, but the footage went online, and conspiracy theories are spreading."
Explosions loud enough to startle civilians and leave scorch marks on a residential rooftop — no wonder rumors were flying.
"There's always some useless bastard stirring things up. Whatever. Just put surveillance on his family. Don't touch them, just watch."
The big guy hesitated slightly.
"Boss… That might not go over well. Upper management doesn't like involving civilians."
"Who said touch them? I said watch. He's human — he's bound to visit his parents eventually, right?"
"Yes, sir!"
The man slumped into the sofa and closed his eyes.
The bulky subordinate, sensing the mood, cautiously spoke up.
"Mr. Kim… No, Hyungnim."
"What? Got something else to say?"
"I've mastered the first half of the martial art you taught me. I've done everything I can to assist you."
"You're asking for the second half. No need to be coy about it."
Caught off guard by the blunt remark, the subordinate was left speechless.
"How far do you think I can go?"
Trying to think of a good response, he instinctively answered the unexpected question.
"Of course, all the way to the top of our organization…"
"Spare me the flattery."
"No, seriously. You, Chil-sang hyung, and Dal-jin hyung — the three of you are clearly next in line for permanent promotion. You're the top players in the organization. It's only a matter of time before it all becomes yours."
"You think so too?"
"Yes, Hyungnim."
"I think so too. Then why do the other bastards keep flocking to that washed-up fool?"
The bulky man paused before answering.
"They backed the wrong horse."
"Then don't we need someone capable to enlighten them?"
With that, the man pulled a half-used notebook from subspace and tossed it over.
"I'll do my best."
"Good. Make sure you whip those traitors into shape. With the boss barely hanging on, we've got to be ready. It's nerve-wracking watching all the new recruits flock under that chick-like bastard Cheol-oh."
"Don't worry!"
Clutching the notebook with the secret techniques, the bulky subordinate bowed deeply.
Once a small construction company fronting a tiny gang, Segilpa had grown into a massive organization with ties in construction, private lending, and logistics.
At the heart of that transformation was Kang Cheol-oh, their former enforcer.
He was the first among them to become an Awakened Player through Cloyd, and he quickly trained new recruits, strengthening their power.
The "Bichuk" — were non-player Awakened individuals who mimicked abilities to gain powers.
Forging ties with the Ministry of Homeland Security and expanding the business through those connections had been entirely Kang Cheol-oh's doing.
Seeing their success, others had followed their model.
At the forefront of the Pro-China Federation stood NEW WAY COMPANY, born from that legacy.
And Kim Jong-chun, who now challenged Kang Cheol-oh for leadership, was once his prey.
Just two years ago, Kim Jong-chun had been hunted down by Kang and forced to join the organization.
Now, he was in a position to rival Cheol-oh for the chairman's seat — a massive climb from where he once stood, constantly watching his back.
As he thought of Kang Cheol-oh, Kim raised his hand to his shoulder.
The burn scar from their first encounter still pulled at his skin, and he grimaced at the tight, leathery sensation.
[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : https://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]